Garment-stay.



Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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J. B.. DEAN.

GARMENT STAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. so. 1912.

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THE MORRIS PETERS CO,.PH01o-LITHO..WASHINGIUN. u. C.

meren srnrns PATENT orrron JOHN R. DEAN, OF NORTH GIRARD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO VALTER KARL DEAN, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARMENT-STAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed September 3D, 1912. Serial No. 723,052.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN R. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Girard, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garment- Stays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment stays and consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to give to that type of stays ordinarily called flat wire stays greater flexibility.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows Figure l shows an elevation of a stay. Fig. 2 a section on the line 2 2 in Fig. l. Figs. 3 and 4 similar stays with clasps or fastening devices secured thereon. Fig. 5 a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

In formingthis stay, I take a strip of flat wire, or in other words, a flat metal strip and slit this strip alternately from opposite edges, the slits on one edge overlapping by or extending inwardly beyond the ends of the slits from the opposite edge. In the drawings l marks the slits and 2 the transverse portions formed between the slits. It will be observed that by this method when the stay is flexed the transverse portions 2 are subjected to torsional or twisting strain and by this method the metal bending length of the stay is very much increased. For these reasons, that is, the substitution of torsional action for simple flexure and the increasing of the length of the stay, the stay is given great flexibility. At the same time, the edges of the stay are practically continuous so as to have little abrading eect on the garment. The stay can be formed of very slight thickness so as to add to the appearance of the garment. The slits can be arranged in very close proximity if desired so as to give the greatest possible flexibility.

With some stays it is desirable to have some parts of the stays stiffer than others. In the stay shown it will be noted that the slits are closer together at the center of the stay than at the ends. This adapts the stay peculiarly to some parts of corsets 1n that greater stiffness is desired at the ends and greater flexibility at the center. Another advantage of this stay is that it is quite rigid against edgewise flexure as compared with its flexibility flatwise. These two peculiarities, that is, stiffness against edgewise flexure and greater flexibility flatwise make the stay peculiarly desirable where the stays are used with clasps as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which are provided with the eyelets 3 and studs 4 for this purpose.

It will be noted that the eyelets and studs are fastened to a portion 5 between the slits.

lThis form of stay is peculiarly advantageous in that this portion between the two slits gives a surface to which the fastening device may be attached. This form of stay also lends itself readily to plastic coatings such as Celluloid or rubber in that the slits permit the union of the coating on the two surfaces of the stay. In Figs. 3 and 4 the stays are shown with such a coat 6. It will be understood that the metallic strip forming the body of the stays in the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are formed in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The method employed in coating stays of this class with some of these materials is to envelop a stay in a thin strip of this material in a semi` plastic condition and then subject the whole to pressure. 4The flat surfaces forming the faces of this stay readily permit of the application of this process. The forcing of some of the coating material into the slits locks the edges of the slits relatively to each other and thus stilfens the stay against edgewise flexure. Furthermore the sides of the slit form opposing faces so that the coating material entering these slits practically bridges the space between the opposing faces and in consequence when the stay is flexed sidewise the torsional movement of the crossings of the transverse portions results in a rolling action at the inside edge of the slit. The result is that the transverse portions are slightly sprung laterally as well as torsionally and in this way the stay is stiff'ened.

What I claim as new is 1. A stay for garments formed of a flat metal strip and having slits extending inwardly alternately from opposite edges, the distances between the slits being varied atV different parts of the stay to vary the flexibility of the different parts of the stay.

2. A stay for garments formed of a flat metal strip having slits extending inwardly alternately from opposite edges the sides of the slits forming directly opposed faces; and a plastic coating secured to the surfaces of said strip, said coating extending through the slits and forming a union between. the

coatings on opposite Y- faces of the stay.

7 Copies "ofthis patent may be obtainedffor and a plastic coating secured to the surfaces of said strip, said coating extending into the slits.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 Inyhand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN R DEAN.

Witnesses B. M. HARTMAN, M. W. EIsMANN.

ve centsfeach, by addressing the Gommissionez'I of atents, Washington, D: C. 

